By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Rice Systems Capacity Strengthening Project under the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), has successfully concluded the second phase of a week-long capacity-building training for extension officers in Kambia and Tonkolili districts.

The initiative, which brought together 40 agricultural extension officers, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s rice production systems by equipping frontline agricultural personnel with practical knowledge and modern farming techniques that can be transferred directly to smallholder farmers.

The training focused on enhancing the officers’ ability to provide farmer-centred advisory services aimed at improving rice productivity, increasing yields, and helping farming communities adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Unlike conventional training programmes that emphasise classroom instruction, the exercise combined theoretical learning with practical field demonstrations, allowing participants to gain hands-on experience in climate-smart agricultural practices.

Participants received specialised training in climate-smart agriculture, soil fertility management, integrated pest management, and water conservation techniques. They also participated in demonstration plot activities where they learned improved seed selection methods, timely planting practices, and micro-dosing fertiliser application techniques designed to maximise crop performance while reducing production costs.

Project implementers described the training as an important bridge between national agricultural policies and practical implementation at the community level. They noted that extension officers play a critical role in ensuring that improved farming technologies and innovations reach rural farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Following the training, the extension officers are expected to establish farmer field schools, organise on-farm demonstrations, and provide continuous technical guidance to smallholder rice farmers across their respective districts.

Participants welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and relevant in light of the increasing impact of unpredictable weather patterns on agricultural production. They said the knowledge acquired would enable them to better support farmers in adopting climate-resilient farming practices, including improved cropping calendars and affordable soil management techniques.

Speaking on behalf of the project, Mohamed Deen Rogers underscored the importance of ensuring that the skills gained during the training are effectively transferred to farming communities through regular follow-up activities, practical demonstrations, and sustained community engagement.

Project officials emphasised that strengthening agricultural extension services has the potential to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits. They noted that improved extension support can increase farm productivity, raise household incomes, and reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related hazards such as droughts and floods.

Officials further highlighted the strategic importance of strengthening rice production systems, particularly in the Northern and North Western regions, where rice cultivation remains central to household food security, rural employment, and local economic development.

The second phase of the training was funded by the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF) through South-South Cooperation, reflecting continued support from international development partners for Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation agenda.

According to project implementers, collaboration between government institutions and development partners has been instrumental in expanding agricultural capacity-building initiatives across rural communities, enabling farmers to access modern farming knowledge and improved production techniques.

As part of the project’s next phase, officials disclosed that extension officers will undertake farmer outreach programmes, monitor demonstration plots, and participate in refresher training sessions to reinforce the knowledge gained. The project will also assess technology adoption rates and measure changes in farm productivity to evaluate the impact of the intervention.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and its partners say the long-term goal is to institutionalise improved extension approaches within the country’s agricultural support system, ensuring that smallholder rice farmers continue to benefit from enhanced advisory services long after the project has ended.

With agriculture remaining a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s economy, stakeholders believe that strengthening extension services through practical, farmer-focused training will play a vital role in improving national food security, building climate resilience, and supporting sustainable agricultural development across the country.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 27th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)